A 3-D-printed scale model shows S.F.'s skyline of 2017 with the in-progress towers in place.

A 3-D-printed scale model shows S.F.'s skyline of 2017 with the in-progress towers in place.

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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The 3-D scale model shows what 115 blocks of San Francisco's Financial District and SoMa will look like in 2017 when all the projected towers have been built.

The 3-D scale model shows what 115 blocks of San Francisco's Financial District and SoMa will look like in 2017 when all the projected towers have been built.

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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A high-resolution projection system can overlay images such as traffic patterns - seen here in an aerial view coming from the Bay Bridge into San Francisco's downtown sector - onto the 3-D scale model.

A high-resolution projection system can overlay images such as traffic patterns - seen here in an aerial view coming from the Bay Bridge into San Francisco's downtown sector - onto the 3-D scale model.

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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A high-res projection system can overlay images such as future building designs and data such as traffic patterns on the 3D model at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

A high-res projection system can overlay images such as future building designs and data such as traffic patterns on the 3D model at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Steelblue's O'Brien Chalmers explains the printing process during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Steelblue's O'Brien Chalmers explains the printing process during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Downtown high rise buildings along Market St. are seen on the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Downtown high rise buildings along Market St. are seen on the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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A view looking up Market St. from the Embarcadero is seen on a 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

A view looking up Market St. from the Embarcadero is seen on a 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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A view of AT&T Park with downtown in the background on a 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

A view of AT&T Park with downtown in the background on a 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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A view of downtown as seen from the Bay Bridge on the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

A view of downtown as seen from the Bay Bridge on the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Justin Lokitz, center, of Autodesk holds a piece of the model as he speaks to guests and media during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Justin Lokitz, center, of Autodesk holds a piece of the model as he speaks to guests and media during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Media and other guests get a look at the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco during an unveiling by makers Autodesk and Steelblue at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 18 of 22

Justin Lokitz, center, of Autodesk adjusts a piece of the model as he speaks to guests and media during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Justin Lokitz, center, of Autodesk adjusts a piece of the model as he speaks to guests and media during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Justin Lokitz of Autodesk holds a piece of the model as he speaks to guests while O'Brien Chalmers, right, of Steelblue looks on during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

Justin Lokitz of Autodesk holds a piece of the model as he speaks to guests while O'Brien Chalmers, right, of Steelblue looks on during an unveiling of the largest 3D printed model of San Francisco at the ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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A high-res projection system can overlay images such as future building designs and data such as traffic patterns, seen here, on the 3D model at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May 28, 2014.Autodesk and Steelblue partnered to produce the largest-ever 3D-printed scale-model of San Francisco, measuring roughly 4' X 6' and covering 115 blocks of the financial district and SOMA. less

A high-res projection system can overlay images such as future building designs and data such as traffic patterns, seen here, on the 3D model at the Foundry Square complex in San Francisco, CA, Wednesday May ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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S.F. skyline of future rises today from 3-D printer

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The San Francisco skyline of 2017 is a work in progress - except in the precise resin forms on a newly printed 3-D model of 115 downtown blocks where the dust and noise of today's construction boom is nowhere to be seen.

Instead, nine towers that are in the process of being built are displayed between the Bay Bridge and Mission Street, amid hundreds of other forms within an object that measures 6 feet by 6 feet. The coming attractions range from the 1,070-foot Salesforce Tower, where construction began recently, to the new wing of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where the steel bones for what will be a 200-foot slab are climbing along Howard Street.

The model was produced as a marketing tool and presents a downtown free of such blemishes as traffic jams and crowded sidewalks. It's the largest such map of San Francisco yet produced and, its creators say, may be the largest and most-detailed 3-D printed map of any U.S. city.

Even so, and even beyond the cool-gadget geekery of a sculptural object that can be updated in a day, the model created by two local firms offers a taste of tomorrow's city - one where the skyline is no longer synonymous with the Financial District.

"San Francisco will always be evolving," said O'Brien Chalmers, president of Steelblue, which produced the model in collaboration with software design firm Autodesk. "The city was different in the 1940s versus the '70s, or the '90s versus today."

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Steelblue, which bills itself as "dedicated to communicating space," uses digital architectural renderings and animation to depict how such projects as the Transbay Transit Center will look and feel upon completion. It massaged its accumulation of physical information for the downtown map, including projects in the works. Autodesk then reshaped the data to prepare it for physical form.

Can update endlessly

The difference between the 3-D models and conventional models of wood or plastic isn't necessarily in the detailing - which can be more elegantly crafted when done by traditional methods - but the possibility of endless updates. "As plans change in the city, we can change just as rapidly," Lokitz said. Rewrite the code for a certain block, start the printer. Eight to 12 hours later, plans are idealized reality.

The plan for how to use the model changed as well.

The client was Tishman Speyer, a developer seeking to pique interest in a 26-story office tower taking shape at Second and Howard streets. When the entire structure was leased in April by LinkedIn, the need for marketing vanished.

The model now is in a retail space on Howard Street that Tishman had intended to use as a marketing center. Its physical scale was expanded south to AT&T Park while Steelblue added to the interactive visuals that can accompany future versions.

In the unveiling to members of the press, Chalmers used one set of lights to show downtown zoning and another to illustrate the path of the long-gone Embarcadero Freeway. Cultural buildings could be highlighted, or corporate headquarters.

"Every building has its own brand, its identity, its challenges," Chalmers said. "We're trying to tell a story. ... This model was used to convey the big zones" of a central city.

Imperfections remain

The actual printing took place over a two-month period at Autodesk's workshop on San Francisco's Pier 9. Two printers running full time lay down layer after layer of resin just 16 microns thick. The individual blocks were then polished and refined before joining the larger urbanistic collage.

"It's a bit of a process," conceded Justin Lokitz, senior product manager of Autodesk. "You want to get rid of any imperfections."

Inevitably, despite this, imperfections crept in. The clock tower on the model's Ferry Building is out of proportion to the rest of the landmark. Several other towers, less well-known, are out of scale.

Then there's the empty land on Folsom Street owned by Tishman Speyer. It's one block in from the Embarcadero, and high-profile architect Jeanne Gang of Chicago has been hired to fill it with a residential tower.

Chalmers was asked if the 3-D modeling effort has included depictions of how Gang's still-unreleased high-rise might look in context.